How To Apply Glitter Nail Polish the Right Way

Glitter nail polish may be a fun way to inject some sparkle into our beauty routines, but between the removal process and the fact that it never quite seems to be as glittery enough, it always seems to be tricky to get right. However, we've found a hack that answers the age-old question, "how to apply glitter nail polish?" and makes getting off-the-charts levels of shine factor easier — and quicker — than ever.

This game-changing method comes courtesy of YouTuber Kelli Marissa’s tutorials, as reported by Lipstick, and will seriously make you forget everything you know about applying glitter nail polishes. Long story short? Instead of applying your polish with a brush — the way you would any other hue — this process requires using another beauty product that you likely already have in your beauty drawer: A makeup sponge.

Virtually every nail brand on the market carries tons of glitter options to get in on the trend, so lucky for you, shining bright like a diamond (at least on your fingertips) is one affordable beauty trend we can seriously get behind.

Read on for exactly how to make it happen.

Step 1: Start With the Base Coat

Start with a clear base coat to protect your nail from damage, and to make your glitter mani last as long as possible.

Step 2:

Paint the skin around your nail with liquid latex or PVA glue, which protects your skin from being covered in glitter when you apply the polish. FYI: This genius hack can be applied to any type of manicure to avoid getting polish on your nail beds.

Step 3:

Paint the corner of a makeup sponge (told you it was something you already had lying around!) with a generous amount of glitter polish. If you need some inspiration, here are a few of our faves. If you don't want to sacrifice your beloved Beautyblender, pick up a pack of disposable ones from your nearest drugstore.

Step 4:

Using the painted makeup sponge, dab the glitter delicately onto your nails, going over it as many times as necessary until the entire nail is covered. The idea behind the additional step is that the porous material will soak up much of the liquid base, allowing the glitter to go on in a thick, opaque coat. If you really want to get fancy (now that you're basically an expert) try the "burnishing technique" for an extra holographic look.